Hi there, and thanks for your post. Let’s be clear about this: the log belong to the owner, and not the Mate. Taking it would probably constitute theft, which is a criminal act and therefore a matter for the police in the place where the yacht was when the log was stolen, and may also be a matter for the Flag State’s police. Definitions of theft are not universal worldwide, and may involve issues of whether the Mate had an intention to return it at some point, but it would seem to be a clear-cut case from the way you have described it. His behaviour may also be of interest to the USCG as his licensing authority, who may wish to consider whether he’s a fit and proper person to hold his ticket. Benjamin Maltby. MatrixLloyd. info@matrixlloyd.com